Mighty Ploughboys rock on, despite member's death

Sandra Diamond Fox

Updated 3:06 pm, Thursday, March 7, 2013

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The Mighty Ploughboys perform at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, March 2. Left to right are John Rich (guitar and vocals), Pat Hearty (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Renato Ghio (guitar and mandolin), and Sean Finnerty (bass guitar). less

The Mighty Ploughboys perform at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, March 2. Left to right are John Rich (guitar and vocals), Pat Hearty (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Renato Ghio (guitar and mandolin), ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

Mighty Ploughboys rock on, despite member's death

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Like many teens growing up in the '80s, New Fairfield resident Patrick Hearty was a big rock 'n' roll fan. "I loved anything that was on MTV," said Hearty, now 41.

Yet, he equally enjoyed listening to traditional Irish music. His parents, who were both born in Ireland, would play Irish music all the time for their brood of six.

"My dad would break out the push-button accordion and play jigs and reels in the living room. Peter and Sean -- the older boys -- also played the accordion, while Brian -- the third oldest boy -- played the tin whistle. My brother Kevin, myself, and my younger sister, Mollie, would sing and dance along. Those were good times," he said.

Even as a kid, Hearty always thought old Irish songs would make great rock songs "because of the hooks and lyrics. Kevin and I would borrow mom and dad's tape recorder and listen to our favorite artists, like Paddy Reilly, the Wolfe Tones, and the Clancy Brothers. We thought if Def Leppard or Van Halen re-did them, they would be a hit."

In 2007, Hearty and his longtime friend, the late Mike Smith, set out to combine old Irish and rock music through their newly-formed band -- Mighty Ploughboys. "We wanted to have our own genre and our own sound while creating a good fusion between the two types of music. We had to make sure people could still recognize the traditional Irish songs and keep the Irish spirit in our music intact," Hearty said.

The musicians achieved their goal. As band member Jim Lynch put it, they came up with a sound that appeals "to not only college-aged people -- who like the rock element of our music -- but also to the middle-aged crowd, who like the new spin on the traditional Irish songs." It's a sound that's given them the best of both words, said Lynch, 42, of Brookfield.

To date, Mighty Ploughboys has given hundreds of performances in such venues as the Ridgefield Playhouse, and at events, including the Greater Danbury Irish Festival, as well as the Cortland Celtic Festival and the Albany Irish Music and Arts Festival, which are both in New York.

"Albany was our biggest performance so far. When we started playing, there were about 100 people in the audience, and by the time we finished there were over 1,000. That was the first time I thought, `We've made it.' " Hearty said.

In 2010, just when the band was establishing a name for itself through its music, one of its members became gravely ill; Smith was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Lynch said Smith was given a 5 percent chance to live one year, but lived for two. "That gives you an idea of his strength," Lynch said. "When this happened, we had no idea what the future held. But Mike told us `You better not quit. You have to keep going.' "

Smith passed away in 2012 at the age of 43. While the remaining band members were devastated by his loss, they remembered his words and honored them by releasing their second album on Smith's birthday -- Feb. 11, of that same year.

Mighty Ploughboys is working on its third CD, which will contain all new material.

Band member John Rich, of Sherman, said making music is therapeutic for him.

"It helps me get through the week. Recording is a blank canvas. It's a way to be creative," Rich said.

"Mike's music, inspiration, and spirit will always be the driving force of this band," Hearty said. "We'll never forget you, Mike."